Fiery debate and discussion about the future of the University -- from facilities projects to the fate of Advanced Placement credits -- marked the first day of the University Board of Trustees' winter meetings yesterday.
While a full meeting of the entire board is scheduled for this morning, the Board's 10 committees each held separate meetings in which various agenda items were discussed.
In addition to AP credit and facilities, the board addressed Student Activities Council funding of interfaith events, facilities development on 40th Street and the Alcohol Response Team policy proposal.
Members of the Academic Policy Committee were divided on the usefulness and purpose of AP credit at the University. While some believe that Penn's credit policy allows students more flexibility and the ability to take more advanced classes, others argued that many students only use their AP credit to graduate early.
"I think that we're sending the wrong message to say that an AP class is the same as a college class," Penn Trustee Lee Spelman said.
While the University will only accept an AP score of five -- the highest possible score -- for course credit, some argued that Penn's policy is not strict enough because it allows students to place out of required courses.
"The criteria for earning credit from Penn has been getting more and more stringent over the years," College Dean Dennis DeTurck said.
Though Doty said that she thought the University's policy was still too lenient, others said that having more generous guidelines was not necessarily a bad thing.
"I believe that our AP policy is a comparative advantage in attracting students," Trustee Mitch Blutt said.
Vice Dean of the Undergraduate Division of the Wharton School Barbara Kahn said that AP credits enable students to pursue their academic interests.
Students "are using the AP not to get out early, but to get the richness out of the" school, she said.
However, Spelman said she still believed that students were substituting college courses with AP credit, thus enabling students to graduate before spending four years at Penn.
"The fact that we allow so many people to graduate early ... hurts camaraderie" among Penn grads, Spelman said.
Facilities
Senior Vice President for Facilities and Real Estate Services Omar Blaik briefed the Facilities and Campus Planning Committee on westward campus developments -- namely, the conversion of 4200 Pine St. to condominiums and the revamping of 40th and Chestnut streets.
Most recently utilized as office space, the building at 4200 Pine St. will be converted into 30 condominiums, helping to advance the University's goal of increasing home-ownership in the area.
Blaik's office would also like to see increased residential options along with small, community-based retail outlets along 40th Street between Walnut and Chestnut streets.
Facilities and Campus Planning Committee Chairman William Mack described the area as "the weak spot on our campus."
Blaik noted ongoing efforts to increase arts and culture opportunities in the 40th Street area in addition to the residential expansion.
"We don't want people to think of 40th Street as only a business corridor," Blaik said.
The overall project will include the renovation of two buildings at the intersection of 40th and Chestnut streets as well as five to six other properties on 40th Street.
Religious diversity
The Student Life Committee meeting kicked off with a discussion of religious diversity at Penn.
Five leaders from on-campus religious groups discussed the challenges facing students participating in religious activities at Penn.
Penn Sikh Organization President Amrita Arneja noted the "lack of financial support for interfaith community service events."
University Chaplain William Gipson said that the previous SAC board had agreed to fund interfaith group activities but had never put the plan into action.
The "current [board] lost traction on that," Gipson said, noting that SAC guidelines could be interpreted to permit funding of interfaith events.
Alcohol policy
The Student Life Committee also discussed the Alcohol Response Team's proposed changes to the University's alcohol policy.
The proposed revisions, if adopted, will mandate that guests remain in a public area at parties, increase the number and competence of sober host monitors and charge student organizations with proving their ability to deal with high-risk drinkers.
Trustee Stanley Prusiner observed what he sees as a flaw in ART's proposal, explaining that while it details several behavioral problems associated with drinking, the proposal neglects some significant biological factors.
"We ought to be incorporating this information as it emerges," Prusiner said, referencing research that has been conducted on the biological basis for consumption of alcohol.
In an effort to expand the reach of ART's proposed changes, Undergraduate Assembly Chairman Jason Levine, who is an ART member, suggested that SAC require its groups to submit an alcohol competence plan, which would detail how the organization deals with high-risk drinking. Organizations would also be required to plan events not centered around alcohol.
Despite possible SAC support, the policy would still technically be unenforceable for off-campus students.
"If we can't legislate, we'll educate," Levine said. The College senior explained that while a tangible change may not be possible, it will still be helpful to create buzz around the issue.
Budget
The Board of Trustees Committee on Budget and Finance approved the following allocations yesterday. $8.1 million to outfit space at 126 S. 30th St. to be used as offices and laboratories for the School of Medicine $4.9 million to install new sprinkler and fire-alarm systems in Sansom Place West $2.36 million to outfit space for the Penn Center for Educational Leadership $1.8 million to design and construct the Vance Hall 3rd floor External Affairs Renovation Project $1.7 million to design and construct the McNeil Center for Early American Studies, bringing the total revised budget for the project to $5.28 million
